The Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, and leaders of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union (SOKAPU) have condemned the latest killings in Southern Kaduna, calling for urgent measures to halt the recurring attacks and protect vulnerable communities.

Besides, Atiku who reacted to reports of fresh attacks in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, described the killings as “heartbreaking and unacceptable,” saying the continued loss of innocent lives reflected the Federal Government’s failure to adequately protect Nigerians.

The former vice president pointed out that no government could claim meaningful progress while citizens continued to be killed in their homes and communities.

He also criticised what he described as the attention being given by senior government officials to an unverified claim of a letter of commendation from the United States, insisting that the priority should be protecting lives and preventing further bloodshed.

Atiku called for a comprehensive review of the country’s security architecture and stronger measures to safeguard communities repeatedly targeted by armed attackers.

Also, SOKAPU urged the Kaduna State Police Command to take immediate and decisive action to halt the escalating killings, abductions and destruction of farmlands across Southern Kaduna.

In an open letter dated July 27 and addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, SOKAPU President, Engr. Tabara Samuel Kato, expressed concern over what he described as the worsening security situation in rural and farming communities.

The association said its appeal followed the early morning attack on Narido community in Kauru Local Government Area, where about 30 people, including women and children, were reportedly killed, while several others sustained injuries.

SOKAPU noted that the attack occurred despite repeated security assurances and ongoing engagements, warning that residents of Kajuru, Chikun, Kauru and Zangon Kataf local government areas continued to live in fear.

It said many families had been displaced from their ancestral communities, while armed criminal groups allegedly operated with increasing audacity.

The association called for a shift from what it described as reactive security responses to proactive, intelligence-driven policing.

Among its demands, SOKAPU urged the immediate deployment of Mobile Police and counter-terrorism units to vulnerable communities and forest corridors, intensified intelligence-led operations to dismantle criminal camps, and sustained security patrols around farming communities to enable farmers to cultivate and harvest their crops without fear.

The group also appealed to the police to improve response to distress calls and strengthen public confidence through effective communication, stressing that the protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of government.

The open letter was copied to Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, with SOKAPU urging security authorities to treat the appeal with urgency to prevent further loss of lives and displacement in Southern Kaduna.